If we are honest, more than a few of us did not inherit Grandma’s cooking skills. If you would rather head out to a restaurant for this year’s holiday feast, then you are in good company! We have put together a list of really good places to eat and their Thanksgiving specials.

Bella Vista Ristorante’s Thanksgiving Day Buffet

From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bella Vista Ristorante on Thanksgiving Day, guests will enjoy a huge assortment of comfort food. There will be dishes piled with warm rolls, cheddar cheese cornbread muffins, buttermilk biscuits and garlic loaf with a selection of gourmet butters. There will be two hot soups served: a bacon-filled Corn Chowder with Cajun seasonings and an Autumn Bisque made from harvest vegetables and apples. Traditional Roasted Turkey will be available, of course- but if you are really itching to break away from tradition this year, then shock your taste buds with the Cajun-Rubbed, Deep-fried Turkey selection! All of your favorite starches will be there: Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Four-Cheese Lasagna, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese- and Stuffing, of course! Be sure to make room on your plate for some vegetables to keep guilt at bay: Collard Greens (Southern Style), Brussel Sprouts (with pancetta), Acorn Squash (with honey and spices), Heirloom Carrot Spikes (with brown butter and pistachio dust), and salads layered with seasonal touches. Last but not least, end your feast with Warm Pear Cobbler, Creme Brulee Spoons, and your favorite slice of pie (apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and chocolate). Talk about wholesome!

Located at 7001 Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY. Admission to the Buffet is $25.95/Adult, $12.95/Child 4-11, and Free for Children 3 and under. Please make your reservations immediately at 716-299-0344 extension 2335.

Parkway Prime’s Tableside Turkey Carving

From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., guests at Parkway Prime will enjoy a three-course Thanksgiving experience. For your first course, enjoy the Aztec Corn Soup, Crisp Butternut Squash Salad (with Spinach, Cranberries, Gruyere, and Bacon Vinaigrette), or the Harvest Salad (featuring Spiced Pumpkin Croutons, Apples, Candied Walnuts, Mixed Greens, and Apple Cider Vinaigrette). Enjoy a hearty main course selection of Roast Turkey and Brisket Ham carved tableside, accompanied by Mashed Potatoes and Turkey Gravy, Apple Cornbread Stuffing, Maple Melted Sweet Potatoes, Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese, Brussel Sprouts, Green Bean Casserole, Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce, and warm Dinner Rolls with whipped butter. Finish your feast with Sweet Potato Pie, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, or Warm Apple Cobbler. Think of all the dishes that you won’t have to wash!

Located at 401 Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY. Prices are $39/Adult and $19/Child. For reservations, please call 716-524-3347.

Hotel at The Lafayette’s Thanksgiving Buffet

Get into the holiday spirit at Hotel at The Lafayette with Slow Roasted Turkey, Cranberry Relish, and Prime Beef au Jus! Your favorite holiday sides will be available: Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Green Bean Casserole, Stuffed Shells with Marinara, House Made Stuffing, fresh Salads, and more! There will be hot soups such as the Pumpkin Bisque and the White Bean (with bacon), sided with an assortment of breads. Just be sure to save room for the dreamy Dessert Station! (Now if only we could eat like this every day of the year…)

Located at 391 Washington Street in Buffalo. Seatings will take place at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Adults are $25.99, Children (10 and under) are $12.99, and Children under 2 are free. Please call 716-856-0062 to make your reservations.

Red Coach Inn’s Thanksgiving Menu

All day long, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Red Coach Inn will be celebrating one of its biggest days of the year by featuring a special menu of its popular dishes as well as traditional Thanksgiving staples. Begin your meal with a gourmet option such as the Coconut and Toasted Almond Shrimp, which won the “People’s Choice Award” at the Taste of Buffalo! Warm yourself up with a soothing bowl of French Onion Au Gratin or Butternut Squash Soup, or take a crunchy bite of the Red Coach House Salad (sliced strawberries, almonds, bleu cheese crumbles, mixed greens and Concord Grape Vinaigrette). (Other colorful and crisp salads are also available.) Guests can get their turkey-or-ham fix with gourmet coatings, or they can opt for more unconventional dishes such as the Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin, the Feta Shrimp Pasta, and the New York Strip Steak. Vegetarian delicacies are also available, such as the Portobello Mushroom (stuffed with diced tomatoes, spinach, artichokes, feta, and mozzarella) served over Creamy Parmesan Risotto. Lastly, take your Thanksgiving dessert experience to the next level with choices like Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Cherry Creme Brulee, and S’mores Bread Pudding. Yes, please!

Located at 2 Buffalo Ave in Niagara Falls, USA. Please call 716-282-1459 for reservations.

From our table to yours – have a Happy Thanksgiving!

If you do not feel like cooking for Thanksgiving this year, be rest assured that you have plenty of life-changing options available to you! You will not regret straying from tradition when you get a taste of what these four incredible restaurants have to offer guests this holiday season! We are so thankful that our readers have the freedom to do holidays in whatever way that is best for them, and we are also thankful for the kind of good food that only Buffalo Niagara can deliver! No matter how you decide to celebrate this year, we want to thank you for making Welcome 716 a part of your Buffalo Niagara experience.